Aquarium-Museum of Nancy

Two museums in one

The originality of the place lies in its dual nature. The Art Deco building on rue Sainte-Catherine, a former Institute of Zoology built around 1930, houses a public aquarium on one side and a natural history gallery on the other. You move from the living, warm and humid world of the tropical tanks to the still, educational universe of the zoology display cases. This combination, rare in France, makes for a varied visit that appeals as much to children fascinated by fish as to those curious about biodiversity and the history of science.

The tropical aquarium, a festival of colour

On the ground floor, some sixty tanks recreate the fresh and marine waters of warm regions. Developed from the 1970s under the impetus of Professor Bruno Condé, they now display dozens of species: clownfish, blue tangs, moray eels, seahorses, reef fish and invertebrates. The tanks of living corals, colourful and fragile, are among the most admired. Each pane is a window onto a distant ecosystem, a chance to explain to children the richness and vulnerability of tropical seas. Allow time in front of the big tanks.

The zoology gallery

Upstairs, the zoology gallery, redesigned in 2005, displays about 600 naturalised animals from a collection of more than 15,000 specimens. Mammals, birds, reptiles and fish are staged by habitat and by major scientific questions: the diversity of life, adaptation, classification. You also meet rare or recently extinct species, precious witnesses for understanding the erosion of biodiversity. The scenography, both aesthetic and educational, invites you to look closely at the details of a plumage or a jaw. A real journey through the animal kingdom.

A living, educational museum

The MAN is far more than a collection: it is a place of scientific culture, active all year with temporary exhibitions, workshops, guided tours and activities. Its management, shared between the Métropole du Grand Nancy and the University of Lorraine, links it to research and teaching. The museum holds the "Musée de France" label and offers facilities for visitors with disabilities. It is also a popular outing for children's birthdays and school groups, with programmes adapted to every age.

Tips for your visit

The museum is at 34 rue Sainte-Catherine, a few minutes' walk from Place Stanislas. Allow an hour and a half to two hours to enjoy both levels, a little more with children. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm, with a late opening on Thursday until 8pm, it is closed on Monday. Admission is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month. To avoid crowds, prefer the morning or late afternoon. Online ticketing saves time during busy periods.

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